Concordia University researchers set out to answer a "big picture" question: Does computer technology have a positive overall effect on learning in the classroom? File photo.Photograph by: CHARLES PLATIAU
, ReutersMONTREAL — Concordia University researchers set out to answer a "big picture" question: Does computer technology have a positive overall effect on learning in the classroom?"There have been lots of arguments, both pro and con, regarding this issue, (such as) is it worth the investment?" said professor Richard Schmid, chairman of the education department at the Montreal-based Concordia.Their literature review involved looking at thousands of studies and comparing achievement in classrooms that used computer technology with those that used little or none.The 40-year retrospective study, published in the Review of Educational Research journal, concluded that classrooms where computer technology was used to support teaching had a "small to moderate positive" effect on learning and attitude.If an administrator must make a decision "should we invest in this? The answer is yes," said Schmid, the study's co-author.The literature shows that more recent, sophisticated applications of the technology produce greater positive gains than older
Uly Lalunio on 07 May 10Very disturbing findings. Here's a quick excerpt: "There is still debate over whether scientific collaboration leads to better results. Jonathon Cummings, an associate professor of management at Duke University, and his colleagues got a grant from the National Science Foundation to look at 491 research collaborations funded by the foundation. They discovered something unsettling: Collaborations of more universities fared worse than projects primarily executed at a single university. More collaborators meant fewer patent applications, fewer published papers, and less chance of the group seeking additional funding to keep projects going." "Dr. Cummings says it appears that the amount of coordination required to make progress on research-everything from setting up meetings to integrating knowledge among group members-outweighed the potential benefits of collaboration. In the wake of the study, he says, the science foundation now requires grant applicants for some programs to detail how they expect to manage the collaboration."
